Digital SLR

[peter.m]

Big 40 this year and thinking of getting a digital SLR to try to get some better pics. What's the local experts opinions on makes and models?

Have been looking around but it's a lot of years since I used an SLR, my old Zenith!

Considering Canon EOS 400D, Nikon D70 or possibly Olympus E400. Erring towards the Canon at the minute but keep reading reviews that send me towards another until get sent back.

I'm using a Nikon coolpix 885 and happy with the quality it has given but remember liking my mate's Canon years ago. Any views appreciated.

[mark]

got a nikon D50 can't fault it. megapixels aren't everything! there are cameras with more, but they're gonna eat yer disk space rapidly. printed loads of A3 size prints and they are superb.

best lenses in the world IMHO, and that where the picture comes from

battery lasts for ages and ages before needing a recharge.

top marks from me

[peter.m]

Cheers Mark, more pondering. I intend to get into a shop and have a bit hands on advice to help make up my mind. What lense do you use? Do you swap around or just use the 18-70mm lens?

[mark]

got a 70-300 thats on most of the time, just about to buy a 35-500 thats likely to become a permanent fixture, but the 18-70 is incredibly sharp. got the 70-300 thrown into the deal for an extra £90 when I got the camera

[T.C.]

I've ALWAYS used Nikon gear, Peter.....you just can't get better as far as the lens quality goes - and as Mark said, it's the lens which makes the picture.

I've tried other makes, but have always either found them not as good as the Nikons - or they just didn't "feel" right to me. Going to a shop and handling different brands / models is the best way to find out which suits you.

Last year, I got a Nikon D200 and, like my other Nikons, I can't fault it.



Got an 18mm-70mm and a 70mm-300mm lens with it and the MB200 battery pack sepparately..........yes - the kit was a little pricey, but you get your moneys' worth in quality.

The only reason I got it was for the handiness of "digital" over film.
Very rarely use it in any other mode than "manual"......so I still tend to use my range of manual Nikkor lenses - from a 28mm (which is about 48mm using it on a digital camera) up to a huge 300mm f2.8 (front end the size of a dinner plate).

As far as picture quality goes.......I've done glossy colour posters on photo paper up to A0 size and the sharpness is incredible.
The "normal" quality setting for the images taken gives you images of 30MB. You can get higher quality images by selecting "fine".......both of these give you Jpg images. You can also shoot in "RAW" format......the A0 enlargements shot in RAW and saved as uncompressed Tiffs are outstanding quality wise.

[peter.m]

Cheers TC, was looking at the D200 the other day as the pro's at work use them. Bit out of my price range I'm afraid . I'm sure the pictures will be incredibly clear but they wouldn't be for the squeemish.

Got a bit time before I'm buying so will have a good look.

[peter.m]

Bit the bullet and ordered the Canon EOS 400D. Good deals at the minute so got it about £80 cheaper than I thought I was going to pay. I'm told the stock lens is not top class but will get used to the camera first and look to upgrade.

Spoke to Charlton at the Open earlier this year who uses a Canon and his photos make press so can't be all that bad.

[Red5]

My Uncle has 2 Canon EOs' and works on the boats that do the trips out to the Farne islands. He's got some absolute beauty pics he's taken of the birds and seal around the Islands and he also used them to take the pics of me bro's wedding last year. Don't know too much about lenses but can tell you the pics I've seen from the cameras are v impressive. Ive got a standard EOS which although not digital takes fantastic pics and if I had the money i'd get a digital version for wor lass as she's a canny hand with the camera.

[peter.m]

New baby arrived today

Hope I start getting some better than this